With the back-to-school shopping season in our midst, you may already have children's shoes on the brain.  As a child growing up, I had no idea what quality footwear was, but as a parent, this is something I look for when buying shoes for Riley.  Children's feet grow oh-so-fast and every time I turn around, new research is emerging which stresses how important a well-made shoe is for proper foot development.

This is why I'm such a fan of Umi Shoes.  Recently, Riley and I had the chance to review a pair of Radiant boots from their new fall line and I discovered, quite possibly, the coolest boots ever made!  Keep reading to learn more!

Umi Shoes has years of experience making only children's shoes.  Each pair of their shoes is meticulously crafted to give little feet the utmost in comfort and fit.  Their age-appropriate lasts, patterns and buttersoft leathers are what makes Umi Shoes a step above the rest.  Every shoe Umi makes is also tested for safety and durability and made from only non-toxic drum-dyed leathers and other environmentally friendly components.  Their shoes are even protected in recycled packaging, so as to leave a smaller footprint on the Earth.

I was blown away as soon as I laid eyes on the Radiant Boots in Deep Red from Umi Shoes.  These boots were some of the most well-designed and fashionable children's footwear I've ever seen.  From the fun, multicolored stitching and patchwork design to the funky floral accents complete with grommets galore, I can't say enough great things about the way these boots looked.

What's more, they were extremely easy for Riley to take off and on, thanks to the full zipper at the back of the boot.  Of course, Umi can't just put a plain zipper on their shoes...oh no!  :nono:  They even made the zipper fun and functional by attaching a matching leather tassel too.

The inside of these boots contain a light pink mesh material that is slightly padded for comfort.  The weave of this material seemed designed to reduce the sweating that sometimes comes with wearing boots.  I really appreciated how the thick rubber sole of these boots offers plenty of grip so that your little one won't slip and fall easily.

I also loved how they extended this sole up over the toe and heel area to provide greater protection against scuffs and skids.  Now I know my daughter can run and play to her heart's delight and her Umi Shoes Radiant Boots will still look fabulous!

Riley loves her Radiant Boots and thinks of them more like toys than actual footwear.  She'll put these on by herself when she's in the mood to run and jump around the house.  Riley also fancies these shoes her "cowboy boots" or "galoshes" and is always running about fast and furiously when she wears them.  I think these are the most fabulously designed boots I've ever seen and highly recommend the children's footwear selections from Umi!  Any child will get quite a kick out of Umi's stylish shoes with every little step they take!